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How to have a merry zero waste Christmas?

As the beautiful festive Christmas is approaching, everyone is busy in the hustle and bustle of their lives. Looking for sustainable gifts or ways to waste less this Christmas? Here is a list of some absolutely easy and thoughtful ecological tips below that can help you to bring new initiatives. These Eco-friendly tips can help to prevent environmental damage and at the same time make a holly jolly sustainable Christmas.

Christmas tree

Christmas trees are the heart of the holiday season on December. Therefore, there are different possible ways where you can have a tree to celebrate Christmas.

Use your own tree

If you already have a tree, then use that instead. It is better to plant your own Christmas tree where you can get access to cherish it. Once Christmas is over, you can just remove the decorations and put it in your garden again for next year without harming the environment than chop it and throw it in the bin.

Rent a tree

Additionally, there are various organisations around the world where you can rent a Christmas tree for the holiday season, and they will pick up after Christmas to re-plant for next year. Hence, no waste in sight.

Decorations of the tree

Christmas decorations are the main things that make your home feel festive and joyful. So to ensure you have a sustainable Christmas, here are some zero waste Christmas ideas.

Paper sayings / Family pictures

Get creative this Christmas and feel the Christmas spirit. Connecting with your creativity is a sure way to feel in the flow. You can write some beautiful sayings in a small piece of paper that has not been used before for this special festive and put it in the Christmas tree alongside with your family pictures. However, the pictures will remain the same and can be removed and placed it again in the frame.

Gift wrap and packaging

The common problem with wrapping paper is that it cannot be recycled. And, once all those pretty gifts of paper are unwrapped, it will end up in the landfill where it will suffocate and release a lot of harmful emissions. However, to avoid contributing to this extremely wasteful holiday, here are a few ideas of some zero waste wrapping paper alternatives that will make it a little more sustainable.

Plain brown paper

It is one of the best options for Eco-friendly gift wrapping. It’s simple, easy, authentic and much more appealing. You can even make design, paint, decorate and even color it, if the paper is too plain. Even adding a simple ribbon can make a huge difference.

Reusable gift bag and box

Boxes are also considered for storing a collection of gifts. You can use some of them that are lying around at home, you just need to paint, decorate and your gift box is ready. It will be the most sustainable of the traditional methods.

Fabric

It is time to approach Christmas with a creative attitude. You do not have to be an artist to be creative, you just have to be open and believe it. Make something out of items you might already have at home. For instance, used clothing, old sheet and even some other fabrics can be used for the wrapping of gifts. Hence, it is not time consuming and your money will be saved.

There are so many wonderful brands to make beautifully designed wrapping paper for every occasion, so if you don’t want to go DIY with your Christmas wrapping, just buy some beautiful sustainable designs.

Make your own gifts

You do not have to cover yourself in glitter making Christmas crafts if you don’t want to, creativity is about looking at things in a new way, trying something different, or taking an alternative approach. Use your imagination to think of ideas that don’t create waste. Get creative and make handmade crafts such as wooden toys, cards or little ornaments like earrings, bracelets that you can offer your nearest and dearest one on this special occasion. Thus, this is the most sustainable Christmas alternative.

It is not meant to spoil anyone’s joy of the season, but to make us think and realise a little more about the adverse effects of some of our Christmas season habits and actions. I strongly believe that by making genuine changes now, we can still have fun except with less of the harmful effect on our planet’s future, and the future of those we love and want to protect.